The 53rd Indian Brigade started forming in Mesopotamia from November 1917 as part of the 18th Indian Division, joining the division when it was formed on 24 December 1917.

The brigade was formed from battalions transferred directly from India so time was needed for them to become acclimatized.

It remained with the division for the rest of the war, taking part in the action at Fat-ha Gorge on the Little Zab (23–26 October 1918) and the Battle of Sharqat (28–30 October 1918).

[1] At the end of the war, the 18th Division was chosen to form part of the occupation force for Iraq.

The division, and the brigade, was broken up in the following year.